When the Sudbury Spartans opened the 2006 season with their
first full-uniform practice May 1, a few observers on the
sidelines noted that the football team would only go as far as
quarterback Paul Gauthier would take them.
Given Gauthier's credentials - leading the Spartans to five
NFC (Northern Football Conference) championships, winning
multiple championship game MVP awards, winning multiple league
MVP awards and being named to several NFC all-star teams, to
name a few - during his 12 non-consecutive seasons with the
Spartans, it isn't a stretch to see how fans came to this
conclusion.
In spite of all the praise, Gauthier, 44, remains humble and
says he isn't looking for the spotlight.
"You're only as good as your team," said Gauthier, who
played his last season with the Spartans in 2004, taking home
the league MVP title for the third time.
"Whenever a quarterback has a lot of success it's because of
the people around him, because Joe Montana wouldn't be Joe
Montana without a lot of exceptional linemen, receivers and
defence with him." (Montana, a now-retired quarterback in the
National Football League, led the San Francisco 49ers to four
Super Bowl championships and has won a league-high three MVP
awards.)
As he prepares for the 2006 campaign, Gauthier is excited
about the new team and thinks they've got a chance to do some
damage in the NFC this year.
"From what I've seen this week, things are going to be good," he said.
"You don't join a team to lose games, you want to eventually
get to the playoffs but you've got to do everything one game at
a time."
With a wife and two daughters at home, Gauthier said his
family also looks at the season one game at a time as the
Spartans command a lot of his spare time.
"It takes a lot of dedication, it takes a lot of commitment
and support," he said. "(The family) spends a lot of evenings
by themselves now and it takes a lot of understanding from
them.
"Sometimes they ask what the hell is so special about
football?"
First-year Spartan coach Chris Bartolucci knows his players
have family commitments but expects them to make sacrifices for
the benefit of the team.
"In this league, number one is practice," said Bartolucci.
"While I like to think football should be number one in their
lives, realistically, it is number two or three so having a
full team out to practice every night becomes extremely
important."
Gauthier said Bartolucci's dedication to the team pushes the
players to make those sacrifices.
"(Bartolucci) brings a lot of knowledge and a lot of
experience and a lot of respect from the players and I think
that will filter down to everybody else on the team."
When asked what the Spartans' greatest strength would be
this year, Bartolucci didn't hesitate with his answer.
"Paul Gauthier- no question," the coach replied. "He brings
composure to the offence, he's a 44-year-old quarterback and
he's coached the game at the high school level for a long time
and he's played for the Spartans for a long time, so I think
there's a sense of calm about him.
"Kids respond to him very well. Offensively, Paul is going
to be our 'go-to guy' for sure."
Gauthier says Bartolucci's goal of winning two of the first
three games on the schedule is attainable, even though their
first game of the season is against the defending NFC champs,
the Tri-City Outlaws.
"I don't think Tri-City is taking us too seriously because
of last year," said Gauthier, referring to the Spartans winless
season in 2005.
"They kicked the crap out of us.
"You look at the NFC website and Tri-City practices only
twice a week. I hope they take us lightly. I always like to be
the underdog."
At his age, Gauthier said he isn't expecting to lead the league
offensively or set any records but wants to help his team reach
the playoffs and rebound from their winless 2005 season.
"Just to help the team win some ball games. I'm too old to think about setting passing records . . . Let's just get 35 guys together and win some ball games."
